Walk #1 West Wemyss to Buckhaven

Fife holiday 2026 #3

Our coastal walk continued. You could generally see the next village on the trail in the distance but often it took a long time to actually arrive there - distances can be deceptive! This compact little village is West Wemyss (pronounced Weemz), which means 'cave' - and there were caves in the steep sandstone cliffs. Some were reputed to have Pictish cave paintings but they were so dark inside that you couldn't really see anything. The soft stone of the cliffs was nicely weathered and I could have made lots of photos here.

This area was obviously a gathering place for the local community and had some interesting mosaics. The coat of arms of Clan Weymss features swans, so the mosaic is a nod to that. The Chief of the Clan still lives in Wemyss Castle, I believe, which is somewhere on top of the cliffs. 

It looked an attractive village though we didn't explore beyond the coastal footpath. 

One of my friends is much more expert at identifying flowers than I am and she was keeping a log. We were both excited by the lupins growing wild everywhere, something you don't see in our own local area. Out to sea, we spotted islands off the North Berwick coast. I believe the one on the left is the famous Bass Rock seabird colony (whose guano makes it look quite white). The larger, darker lump on the right is, I think, on the mainland and is the volcanic plug called North Berwick Law. 

It was in this area that we spotted lots of seals basking on the rocks - at least fifteen in my photo! We were not expert enough to know whether they are Grey seals or Harbour seals but we enjoyed watching them. (Not that they were doing a lot!) 

More lupins, and lots of buttercups, as we approached East Wemyss.  Then the track climbed a bit as we passed the red sandstone ruin of Macduff Castle, associated with the Macduff Earls of Fife, the most powerful family in Fife in the Middle Ages.

For a while the path moved away from the immediate coastal strip, through lush green farmland and lanes filled with wild flowers. The Fife peninsula is a rich agricultural area. Our breakfast packet of Scotts Porridge Oats proudly proclaimed them to be grown entirely in Fife. Now I can't be exactly sure what growing oats look like, but I think the field below might be them. 

By this point we'd walked more than eight miles. The last two miles from Buckhaven to Leven, where we'd left the cars, were largely pavement walking, so a few of us stopped at Buckhaven and caught a bus back to Leven, and had a welcome cup of coffee! It had been a very good day - no rain, no blisters and I didn't ache too much. In fact most of us even managed an evening walk around Crail later, after dinner. 

Dogs of Airedale

Keighley Show #5

There were hundreds of dogs at Keighley Show, some entering the canine classes and many more just accompanying their owners around the showground. Here are a few of those I managed to capture with my camera. It was clearly a wonderful and exciting doggie experience, with lots of scent trails to follow and lots of other dogs to greet and sniff. They were all remarkably well-behaved. 

 

Heavy horses

Keighley Show #4

My favourite part of any agricultural show is seeing the heavy horses, so I was delighted to find quite a few on show in Keighley. Once an essential part of a farm and used for pulling ploughs and carts, nowadays they're mostly kept as pets and for show, though a few are still used as working horses. (It's not that long ago that the city of Bradford stopped keeping them. They used to use them to pull water carts to water the plant displays around the city centre, and some breweries used them as dray horses until fairly recently.) There are two native breeds - Shire horses and Scottish Clydesdales - and I'm not sure how you tell them apart. 

Perhaps my love for them is in my blood, as one of my great grandfathers was a horseman on a farm. 

The judges are very thorough, checking every aspect of their appearance and build, from the lush 'feathers' over their feet to their gait when trotting. 

 

Sorting out the sheep from the cattle

Keighley Show #2

There were livestock classes, not nearly as many as at the bigger shows but still interesting. It's the only time I dare get close to farm animals. I certainly don't relish meeting them when I'm out walking, especially if there's no fence separating us! 

The shows are a chance for farmers to get together and chat, so you can often snap nice candid shots. 

I liked the very fluffy sheep. I think they're Valais Blacknose, usually kept as pets in the UK. 

I wasn't so sure about the bright yellow ones! I don't think they are naturally this colour but for some reason the farmers dye them. Quite striking, I suppose. 

Onto the cattle. There weren't that many and I kept well away from the big black bull, magnificent though he was. One of my great uncles used to own a dairy farm. I remember vividly visiting there as a child and being introduced to their huge bull, which had a massive ring through its nose. To a small child, it seemed terrifying. I was glad to escape to the farmhouse kitchen, with its comforting warmth from the Aga. I really loved my great aunt, an archetypal, large bosomed, soft featured farmer's wife, invariably in an apron and always baking. She had such a kind face and was usually smiling. 

I enjoy watching the highland cattle. I often wonder how they can see through all that hair. 

Equestrian events at Keighley Show

Keighley Show #1

It was a fine, dry day so I decided on a whim to go to Keighley Show, the annual agricultural show. As these things go, it's a relatively small affair but in many ways that makes it nicer, as you can get closer to the action and see more of it. 

When I arrived, there were show jumping classes in the main ring.  

Shetland ponies were being judged. I rather liked this one with the blonde mane. These little ponies all have the cutest fat tummies! 

In another ring, carriage driving classes were underway. 

The lady in the black hat and gloves (on the left below) is the judge. I rather like the tradition that the officials dress up for the occasion - and there's always a lot of countrywear about: checked shirts, moleskin trousers, fleece gilets. Me... I just wore my jeans and a top, not very 'country' or dressed up! 

Seven Bridges Valley Walk

From the lakeside at Studley Royal, there is a path up through a valley that is known as 'The Seven Bridges Valley Walk'. It's been on my list to explore for a long time, so I'm pleased to have finally ticked it off. The walk follows the River Skell up a narrowing valley. The river was originally criss-crossed by seven ornamental wooden bridges in a Chinese Lattice style but when they deteriorated they were replaced by rustic stone arched bridges, of which only five remain. There's also a ford by each bridge, used by carriages that transported the Aislabie's guests on tours around the estate. 

There are some wonderful old trees, their bark now twisted and rough. Up above on the hillsides there were apparently some monuments and follies, as in the more formal gardens on the estate, but most of these have disappeared. 

Leaving the valley, you climb steeply up through a wooded area, eventually arriving at Mackershaw Lodge, a strange arched structure whose purpose is not really known, though it was most likely simply another focal point on the estate. 

From there, the walk passes downhill through open fields, returning to the lakeside. Around 300 deer live on the estate and some were grazing there. They looked up as I passed (at a sensible distance!) but were curious rather than spooked. I think these were red deer, though there are also fallow deer and Manchurian sikas in the deer park.  

The bad news, following my walk, was that, a day or so later, I discovered a tick attached to my shin, most likely picked up from the deer park. I removed it as soon as I saw it and can only pray it wasn't one of the estimated 2 - 4% of ticks in the UK that carry Lyme Disease. I'll have to keep an eye on the bite and make sure I don't develop a rash or any other symptoms. 😟  I think it is peak tick season and it's been so wet and rather warmer than average, so there are possibly more about. Nasty things, though as far as I'm aware it's the first time I've been bitten. 

Dawgs, donkeys... and Spiderman

Spotted around Saltaire on World Heritage Day. 

Pets corner

I've mentioned before that the garden centre I visited with my family recently has a section where they sell tropical fish and small animals. My grandgirls enjoy visiting (as do I, I must confess). My younger granddaughter is a real softie when it comes to tiny furry things, both animate and inanimate. She always carries a little stuffie of some sort with her and so she loves all these little creatures. I've never coveted a guinea pig as a pet though I find their little faces quite appealing. 

Brian and Barney, the giant tortoises, were sunning themselves under their lamps and not wandering around the shop floor as they often do.

We used to keep tropical fish in a tank at one time. I still find it quite calming to watch them gliding noiselessly around. Those above are koi carp and goldfish and, I think, meant for garden ponds (if the herons don't eat them!) The rest are tropical fish for indoor tanks. Such a variety and such gorgeous colours.